Spotlight Series: Kate E.

It’s Wednesday, which also means its time for a spotlight feature on the #PumpUpBlog! We’ve got the Creator of the #getfit50 challenge, the girl with an crazy amazing core and legs, and has the best workout clothes around … it’s Kate!

Kate has been with PumpUp since March of 2014, and decided to kick her fitness journey into high gear when she realized her once super fast metabolism was now failing her. Kate tells us, “I’ve been very fortunate to have a fast metabolism most of my life. I could eat just about anything that I wanted and I still looked thin. Once I hit my twenties, that luxury changed really fast. I didn’t even realize that my body had been slipping until I looked in the mirror one day and was not happy with what I saw.”

For Kate it wasn’t just about the physical it was more than that. She wanted to be healthy inside and out. “Wanting a change was beyond the physical aspect. I not only wanted to look good, but I also wanted to feel good! I realized that even if you have the world’s fastest metabolism, it doesn’t make you healthy. You still need to nourish your body. It’s not just about the looks!”

Kate explains to us, that you can be really active and fit but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are healthy. There is so much more to factor into the equation. Something that has stuck with her was about a marathon runner who actually suffered a heart attack during the race. She says, “I still think about that man to this day. It made me realize that even though the athlete was athletic and super fit, he lived a very unhealthy lifestyle and did not eat nutritious wholesome foods.”

Before Kate’s health turn around and before she started using PumpUp she was about that cookie-dough and ice cream life! Really! She says, “My lifestyle a few years before PumpUp consisted of eating cookie dough and ice-cream as a meal more times than I can count. Something that I am certainly not proud of! Around 1 year before PumpUp I had been doing my best to eat healthy, but I was never consistent with my training.”

Don’t worry guys, Kate’s cookie-dough meals have been put to rest once she started to use PumpUp, and she is now totally hooked on a healthy and active life. Kate shares with us, “my whole life has changed since I’ve started using PumpUp. I have found a new passion in life – health and fitness. And even greater than that I have a new passion in helping people. As cheesy as it sounds, I find such great joy in helping people along in their fitness journeys.” Kate has definitely helped us all be inspired and motivated but she hopes to take that even further. She now wants to become a certified trainer. She says, “That way I can share proper knowledge, and help people learn to love their bodies. I also feel MUCH happier from exercising every day, and I want others to feel that same happiness.”

Want to know what keeps Kate pushing day in and day out? It’s progress. Kate says, “When I look back on old photos and am reminded of how far I have come, it really gives me that push.”

Favorite Part about PumpUp: “I absolutely LOVE the motivating community! The PumpUp community has really helped push me. Especially on those days when I have absolutely zero motivation, I see a sweet comment, and it gives me that little push to get back up and go harder.”

Something Interesting About Kate:

Kate actually grew up in a family with 9 kids! (Yep, that’s right, 9!) They grew up on a farm and she actually used to ride horses. Later on Kate got a BFA degree in Graphic Design & Digital Media. Then she worked at Walt Disney World Resorts doing recreation and entertaining the families at the resort pools.

Kate isn’t done with her fitness journey just yet! PumpUp has helped Kate get stronger, and slim down. And when she first started PumpUp she tells us, “I struggled to do one modified pushup and I couldn’t do a single pull-up/chin-up. Now I can do many regular pushups, along with 5-6 pull-ups and chin-ups!” Now that is some serious progress! Kate still wants to continue to tone her body and gain strength.

Want to hear Kate’s best advice to all of you out there? We asked her, and she said, “It’s not all about that PERFECT body. It’s about loving yourself and feeling confident in your own skin. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else! Focus on YOU and YOUR progress. Don’t strive for perfection; strive for progress & a happy healthy body!”

Everything you have done has been amazing Kate! We love how you are taking your journey to the next level. The fact that you know what a healthy lifestyle is truly all about, is something to commend. Keep up your dedication and hard work towards fitness and health. We can’t wait to see what you conquer next! You can find Kate on PumpUp: @jatie!